Lutheran Day 2011 Scrapbook

More than 100 people took part in this year’s Lutheran Day on May 11 in Springfield. This annual event enables Lutherans and other people of good will to come together at the State Capitol to build relationships with public officials, learn about important policy issues, showcase the active engagement of Lutherans in pursuing the common good and build camaraderie among Lutheran advocates in Illinois.

A high point of the day was the presentation of the Paul Simon Courage in Public Service Award to Ill. Dept. of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Michelle R. B. Saddler. As she accepted the award, Sec. Saddler said, “Gov. Quinn is the one who gave me this amazing opportunity. He said, ‘I need you to watch out for the needs of the people and the underserved.’” She told Lutheran Day participants: “We are partners. We need to speak up for people who need the benefit of human services.”

Government leaders who made presentations during the morning’s issues briefing session at St. John’s Lutheran Church included Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon on ethics; Sen. Michael Frerichs (D-52) on faith and politics, and Treasurer Dan Rutherford on the budget.